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  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Inconvenient Truth

    Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Inconvenient Truth

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    Entrepreneurship and innovation: The popular belief

    Entrepreneurs are widely believed to be the agents behind economic growth and innovation. They are, we are told, the movers and shakers who create new industries, unseat current leaders from their thrones, and open new frontiers for everyone. Popular culture tirelessly propagates one success story after another – from Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, who was glorified in "The Social Network" movie, to Tesla's Elon Musk, an immigrant who became a household name, to Google's Sergey Brin, whose internet search engine name has officially become a verb in English.

    So persuasive is the narrative of the entrepreneurial technological prowess and success, that many countries – including developing countries that feel they are lagging behind – develop comprehensive policies to support and promote entrepreneurship and even set aside sizeable funds to invest in startups via government-run venture capital programs. But is this fascination with and belief in entrepreneurs justified? How likely are entrepreneurs to push the technological frontier and bring about the kind of change that governments want? Entrepreneurship Professor Sergey Anokhin from Kent State University says the hard evidence is far less convincing than the popular culture makes you believe.

    The dark side of entrepreneurship

    In a study of 35 countries over a 7-year period, Professor Anokhin from Kent State and Professor Joakim Wincent from Sweden's Lulea University of Technology show that there is no universally positive relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation. While for the world's leading economies such as the United States the positive link between startup rates and innovation may be true, for the developing economies the relationship is actually negative. Such countries are more likely to see innovation championed by the existing companies, not startups. With few exceptions, entrepreneurs there pursue opportunities of a different kind that are based on imitation and dissemination of others' ideas, and are not equipped to produce truly advanced "grand" innovations. On average, startups are less efficient than existing firms. Accordingly, if local governments support entrepreneurship, economic effectiveness may suffer, and innovation is less likely to occur. In fact, successful technological development in emerging economies is often associated with an aggressive entrepreneurial behavior of large corporations, not individual entrepreneurs. Such is the case, for instance, of South Korea with its chaebols .

    The figure below shows the vastly different impact of startup rates on innovation and technological development (as measured by patent applications) across countries. Only rich countries can expect more entrepreneurship to result in more innovation, says Dr. Anokhin. For the lesser developed countries, as the plot demonstrates, an increase in startup rates will only lead to less, not more innovative activities. The problem, according to Sergey Anokhin, is that developing countries often look up to the leading economies when trying to design their own policies. Moreover, quite naturally, the very textbooks that the students across the world use, are written by the scholars from the world's leading countries, and do not take developing economies' context into account. Taken together, it often locks policy makers in assuming the relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation that will not hold in their particular parts of the world. The pro-entrepreneurship policies will not bring about the effects expected, and the limited resources will be wasted to support activities that are largely detrimental.

    What it all means

    It is time to recognize that the relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation varies across countries, says Professor Anokhin. That is why World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council for Fostering Entrepreneurship explicitly acknowledges that Silicon Valley success stories do not necessarily resonate in other parts of the world. Broad-strokes policies that aim at fostering entrepreneurship to boost country innovativeness may well be misguided. A contingency approach that takes regional specifics into account should be employed instead.

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    Source by Sergey Ahmetov

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  • Entry-Level Jobs 101: 4 Must-Know Tips

    For most people, aiming for a higher position at once is the key to job search success. However, for some people who know that in order to succeed in the job market, they have to, literally, start from scratch. This means that people who want to grow positively in the working world; they have to learn the basics and fundamental principles of working, how it is to love the work most people do, and how to establish a good working relationship with his or her colleagues.

    In order to enjoy all of these, one must submit himself or herself to an entry-level type of job. This refers to a job that requires minimal skills and expertise with no experience requirement needed.

    Because of its nature, entry-level jobs are characterized by low salary, require physical work, and sometimes need field work.

    Most often than not, people who are into entry-level jobs have very low hourly rates and may or may not entail insurance. This would mean that any hospital expenses caused by accidents that happened while the worker is at work may or may not be compensated by the employer, meaning there is no guarantee or whatsoever.

    What’s more, most entry-level jobs are on a part-time basis. Examples of entry-level jobs are receptionist, apprenticeship, those who are working in a fast food restaurant, customer service, cashiers, etc.

    Contrary to popular belief, entry-level jobs should not be ignored.  What people do not realize is that entry-level jobs offer more than just low wages. These jobs are the foundation of all other positions available in the job market.

    In most cases, people who start to work on higher positions right after they graduate from college are easily bored from their work. What is even worse, there is no room available for personal growth and career advancement.

    Entry-level jobs are the stepping-stone to success in careers. So, for people who wish to grow and be promoted to a higher position, here are some tips that they can use:

    1. Workers who are in the entry-level position should show enthusiasm, efficiency, caring, and love for his work.

    2. They should master their skills and hone their craft.

    3. They should be an expert on customer service.

    4. They should know how to impress a customer who happens to be seeking an employee who knows optimum customer service.

    These are just a few of the qualities that must be employed by an entry-level worker in order to advance to a higher position. And once he reaches the top, he knows that work is definitely something worth valuing for.

     

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  • Individuals 60 and Older are Very Happy with their Sex Lives

    Some individuals feel that getting older isn’t going to be very much fun. They believe that everything on their body is going to start to move in directions that aren’t very appealing. It is this ideal that they have that makes them think that older individuals much must not take part in having sex. They also believe those that do don’t get very much pleasure out of it. Yet they are very wrong in their thinking based on what is really taking place out there.

    Most people over the age of 60 are definitely having sex and they are very happy about it. They take part in the activity at least one a week with a regular partner that they have been with for some period of time. They are past the time in their lives when they have to be everything to everyone. It is now time to really focus on their own needs, and that applies to their sexual desires as well.

    Some individuals who are over the age of 60 grew up in a very different world. Men were mainly dominant and women were submissive. They stayed at home and took care of the house and the children. Today, there is much more equality among men and women in society. That means women can be more assertive in regards to sexual activities they wish to engage in.

    Contrary to popular belief, men really like this. They don’t want to be the one to always initiate sexual activities. They want to know they are needed and that they are desired. They want to be sure their partner is having sex because it feels good to them, not just because they feel obligated to keep their partner happy.

    Some may think that sex for those over 60 would be boring. After all they should enough experience under their belt to have tried it all. Yet many people in this age group will tell you they are still learning. They are finally following what they wanted to try long ago. Also, as they have gotten older their sexual needs and desires have changed from what they once were.

    Communication about sex seems to be more of a standard for people over the age of 60 They feel a connection that goes much deeper now than they did earlier in their lives. While they realize sex isn’t what the relationship is all about, it is definitely a very important part of it. They want to become more intimate with their partner and having a great sexual relationship allows that to take place.

    For those who have been with the same partner for a very long time, many of the tensions that were once there are gone. With the children grown and retirement in place the struggles over child rearing, money, and even time that were once there aren’t anymore. This means that the couple can focus their attention on the needs of each other emotionally and sexually instead of it being consumed by day to day needs.

    The sexual behaviors of those over the age of 60 may not be of interest to younger generations. In fact, they find it hard to swallow that their parents or grandparents are taking part in such activities. Yet it should be reassuring to younger generations that such a big part of their life now can continue on as they reach that age themselves down the road before they know it.

    While most people you likely know who are over the age of 60 don’t go around discussing their sex life in public, you can be sure there is plenty of action still taking place. It is evident from various surveys and questionnaires. The reports from medical offices around the world tell the same story. A great deal of information about those over 60 enjoying sex is also found online where people can share it without disclosing their identity.

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  • Increasing Your Sales With Autoresponders

    The autoresponder is without a doubt one of the best marketing tools you can get.  It is a widely used application that will automatically respond to any email that it receives.  They are considered to be magical indeed, triggered by a blank email that they receive to their address.  Once they receive this email, they automatically start working for your business.

    Whenever someone sends the autoresponder a message, the individual who sent the message will receive a preset email message with the information they were seeking.  Depending on the servers and speed of the Internet, the email response will happen very fast.  Autoresponders have always been known for their quick speed and fast responses to any type of email message they receive.

    One of the best things about autoresponders is the fact that they are always available.  They are always there 24/7, providing your clients and customers with the information they seek.  They will make your business life easier, by boosting your sales.   They require little work from you, yet they are easy to operate.  They can also make managing your customers and clients easier than ever, as they will help you keep track of your responses and keep up with email addresses you receive.

    Even if you’ve never used an autoresponder before, you can easily use it to your advantage with your online business.  You can preset it to say a variety of messages, even inform your clients about future offers and products.  This is a great way to get your message out there, especially if you are currently holding a sale or other deal that you know people won’t want to miss out on.  Autoresponders will work for you day or night, making your company information available to anyone whenever they want it.

    Contrary to popular belief, not all buyers are impulse buyers.  Research has shown that less than 15% of those who visit websites are impulse buyers.  Although most websites focus themselves on getting visitors to buy their products immediately, most buyers need time to think about a product or offer they will purchase it.  Most buyers don’t like to buy something immediately, simply because they may not be familiar with the product or know what it can do for them.  Therefore, most buyers will learn all they can about something before they decide to go ahead and purchase it.

    You can also use an autoresponder to distribute courses, articles or reports to your clients and subscribers.  They are also great for providing free information to interested individuals, or immediately sending out information about your products and opportunities.  You can also choose to send out price lists as well, or welcome new clients to your organization.  If customers have purchased from you before, you can use an autoresponder to send out confirmations, thank you notes, and even offer discounts to those who buy your products.

    In the world of Internet marketing, autoresponders are simply beneficial to have.  They are worth more than the price you pay for them, simply because they will provide you with so much for so little.  One of the best in the business is www.Automatic-Responder.com. Sending out information is easy with an autoresponder – as it will provide information about your company and products to interested clients the instant they need it.

    All in all, an autoresponder will help you operate your business easier than ever before.  Unlike other programs you can get for your online business, autoresponders will keep you in a constant state of readiness.  You can feel free to go out and do what you want – and rest assured that your autoresponder will be there to supply information to those who need it.

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  • The Four Horsemen of Marital Apocalypse

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    Stop to consider your last fight with your spouse. The exact subject may escape you at the moment. We understand. After a while, the spats – over bills, your job, in-laws or the dishes still in the sink – can all blur together. But contrary to popular belief, it’s not the amount of conflict in your marriage or what you argue about that determines your relationship’s survival rate. to marriage researchers, how a couple fights tends to be the best predicator of whether they’ll end up enjoying their golden years together or battling it out in divorce court. So learning to fight less may not be quite as important as learning to fight fair.

    Four Deadly Sins of Marriage

    Dr. John Gottman of University of Washington, one of the foremost marriage researchers, claims he can predict with 90 percent accuracy if a couple will divorce. In his storied “love lab,” Gottman studies how couples interact, particularly how they communicate with each other in heated moments. After 30 years of research, he has pinpointed four behaviors that seem to invariably spell disaster in any marriage. He ominously refers to them as “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” Every couple needs to be vigilant and ensure none of the four gallop into their marriage and wreak irreversible havoc.

    Horseman #1: Criticism

    The most common horseman that emerges in long-term relationships is criticism. Frustrations, annoyances and resentment inevitably build up when couples live together – day in and day out. And criticism can be how these emotions manifest in the heat of an argument.

    Note that criticism differs from complaining. Criticism focuses on the person. Complaining focuses on the behavior. This may seem like subtle nuance but research shows it is a distinction that makes a significant difference in the long term. For example, this is a critical statement: “You always drive around in circles. You are an awful driver with a terrible sense of direction.” These words are dripping with blame and accusation. They are a personal attack.

    Unlike criticism, complaining has more to do with how the other person’s behavior makes you feel. Complaining usually begins with an “I” instead of “you”: “I get so frustrated when you are driving and don’t know where you are going.” See the difference? The second statement is a negative comment about something you wish were otherwise. So though “I” statements can seem awkward, they really help keep the carnage manageable during explosive moments.

    Horseman #2: Contempt

    You’re an idiot. You can’t do anything right. You make me sick. These contemptuous words have no place in any relationship you value. They are meant to explicitly humiliate or wound. They are toxic and indefensible. Period.

    Contempt includes but is not limited to name-calling, hostility and sarcasm. Keep in mind that contempt can also be conveyed non-verbally. An excessively harsh tone or disgusted eye roll can escalate your garden-variety argument into WWIII in the blink of an eye. Avoid contempt in your arguments at all cost. It is the basest, most childish tactic to resort to in a fight. Strive to respect your wife even when you disagree or feel upset with her. Contempt is like a poison. It will single-handedly erode intimacy. It destroys a sense of security and mutual respect. It does real damage because it makes a partner feel belittled and unloved.

    Horseman #3: Defensiveness

    Criticism+Contempt=Defensiveness. Defensive statements become practically an involuntary reflex in homes where contempt and criticism are regular visitors. It is understandable. After all, who wouldn’t put up their guard in response to an accusatory, belittling spouse? Defensiveness is fundamentally a self-preserving tactic.

    As understandable as this response can be, it is still hugely destructive. It builds walls. Rather than allow room for connectedness, the foundation for conflict resolution, it tends to breed emotional distance. Defensiveness blocks healing and forgiveness.

    Horseman #4: Stonewalling

    Because stonewalling is not explicitly aggressive, couples often underestimate its destructive potential. But it can be just as devastating to a relationship in its passiveness. It is, in effect, giving up. It is withdrawing emotionally. It is essentially closing the door to a resolution.

    Stonewallers withdraw partly because they can feel overwhelmed with emotion. They may keep their faces expressionless, avoid eye contact, hold their posture rigid, avoid any signs of listening such as nodding or encouraging sounds. They radiate icy distance and disapproval to their partners.

    The Secret to Fighting Fair

    Now that you know the four horsemen, make a conscious effort to keep them in the stable before they trample your marriage. One of the best ways to do this is to make “repair attempts” during your next argument. According to Gottman, repair attempts are any words or actions that prevent a conflict from escalating out of control. As simple as it sounds, repair attempts keep a marriage from becoming negative, hostile and distant.

    Repair attempts can be as basic as changing the topic, giving a compliment, apologizing or saying, “I’ve been cranky all day, can we start over?” It can be as simple as saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll get through this” or cracking a joke to diffuse tension. Research even shows couples who touch during arguments also tend to show higher relationship satisfaction. Do whatever works for you when conflict rears its ugly head.

    Remember, the more entrenched the negative patterns of behavior in your marriage become, the more difficult it becomes to break them. Don’t become a victim of these negative cycles. When two mature people can take ownership and be flexible, they will keep their marriage strong even though they may not always agree. As a Scottish proverb says, “Better bend than break.”

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    Source by Grant Langston

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